Bridal Planner-12 month time table

CONGRATULATIONS YOUR ENGAGED! TIME TO PLAN YOUR BIG DAY. HERE IS A TIME TABLE THAT WILL HELP YOU GET ORGANIZED:

Bridal Planner

12 plus months before:

• decide if your want your wedding formal or informal
• decide on location
• work up your budget
• choose wedding date, time, how many guests and officiant
• begin interviewing wedding consultants or look for vendors
  
• Good time to start looking for that wedding gown
• start interviewing caterers.

9 to 11 months before:

• look for reception site
• look for an officiant
• book reception site, as soon as you find one
• plan engagement party, Set the date and purchase invitations
• Get organized, Start a notebook for all wedding planning paperwork
• start your preliminary guest list to get size for reception
• choose your attendants/ groomsmen
• find your ceremony site
• hire a consultant and execute a contract
• have engagement photo taken
• contact newspaper and announce your engagement
• choose your color scheme
• decide on caterer and menu
• keep looking for your gown, unless you have found one
• execute a contract with caterer and pay deposit
• finalize your guest list
• start auditioning for reception bands or D.J. s
• arrange for tent and lighting rentals, if outdoor wedding
• set up appointment with florists, meet with several and discuss options and pricing
• decide on ceremony structure, meet with officiant to discuss customs or religious requirements
• interview photographers and vide0 graphers....Get price lists from several, and references
• Book reception band or DJ, execute a contract and pay deposit
• narrow down wedding gown and make final decision

6 to 8 months before:

• register for wedding gifts
• request demo music from ceremony musicians
• reserve photographer and videographer. Decide on package, execute contract and pay deposit
• time to decide on baker for wedding cake, check out a few, taste tests are the best way to choose..get price list, remember tell them what you want, not what they can do, this will help narrow down your choice of a baker, its your day and that is your cake.
• start shopping for bridesmaids dresses, make sure to include your girls, remember 1 size doesn't fit all...
• choose your florist..contract and reserve their services, pay deposit
• give list of duties to made of honor and best man..helps if they know what you want them to do, after all that is what they are there for.
• register for your wedding gifts, and some choices for bridal shower and any other pre or post wedding festivities.
• plan where out of town guests will stay..hotels , motels, friends place...reserve these places in advance...
• decide on bridesmaid gowns
• send out save the date cards with lists of hotels, motel...address and phone numbers
• book your baker, choose your wedding cake design, and send your deposit
• collect the measurements from bridesmaids or have them order their own gowns
• order bridal gown, make sure all of your measurements are correct, no changing mind now
• book ceremony musicians and send deposit
• start planning rehearsal dinner, make sure host has all contact information for attendants and guests.
• start working on wedding invitation wording, style and design
• finalize menu and service detail with caterer
• finalize your invitation wording
• order your invitations and announcements, make sure you have plenty of envelopes ordered
  
• research and purchase wedding insurance

4 to 5 months before:

• Grooms: decide on what style of formal wear you will be wearing, start looking into buying or renting tux or suit or other formal wear
  
• Start planning your honeymoon
• reserve tables, chairs and rental equipment, if needed, check with caterer first sometimes this is included in your price with them
• book your calligrapher if have one
  
• book rehearsal-dinner site
• Grooms: decide on what groomsman will wear
• complete the packages for out of town guests, reservations mail this information out to them
• book hotel room for your wedding-night
• get all floral arrangements finalized
• book honeymoon and travel arrangements complete

2 to 3 months before:

• choose attendants accessories, shoes, gloves etc either give them the information or coordinate with them
• Grooms: give grooms man information about where to buy or rent tuxes
• make sure you are registered for gifts
• shop and purchase your wedding bands
• good time to check out how your hair and make up will look for wedding
• get wedding and reception decorations done
• schedule your portrait session for newspaper wedding announcement
• make sure attendants have purchased their dresses and accessories
• make or purchase your wedding favors.
• buy any special lingerie especially those needed for your gown fitting.
• grooms visit the formal wear shop for your measurements if renting a tux
• get important papers around if honeymoon or wedding is international (passports, birth certificates, visas, vaccinations, etc)
• pick up your invitations
• talk to made of honor and best man about shower and other party plans
• if you are handling bridesmaids dress orders, confirm delivery date
• plan special performances or readings and talk to those people about doing them
• confirm your delivery date of your gown and schedule your fittings
• start addressing invitations or drop them off at the calligraphers, (they are to be sent out 1 to 2 months before wedding)
• send wedding bands out to be engraved make sure they will be back in time for your wedding
• arrange all insurance policy to include you and your future spouse,( health, life, auto, home owner's policy)
• grooms: choose and buy any accessories you will need (shoes, shirt, cuff links, pocket squares, socks)
• provide guest list to bridesmaids for shower
• begin your fittings on your gown
• send out invitations, be sure to add extra postage for oversea guests
• arrange for transportation for you and your wedding party and guests as needed

5 weeks before:

• arrange for parking valet at reception
• decide on and purchase major accessories, (veil, shoes, lingerie) prior to final fitting on gown
• begin writing ceremony programs
• order liquor and wine, champagne, only if not included in caterers contract
• as you receive gifts, be sure to update or add items to your registry
• keep updated on who sent what and start your thank you cards
• confirm reservations of out of town guests
• begin working on vows if writing your own
• research local marriage license requirements
• submit wedding announcement to paper
• arrange for babysitter for reception if necessary
• write thank you notes and send them out as soon as gifts arrive
• buy guest book and pen set
• Grooms: attend your bachelor party and make sure to write thank you notes to your groomsman afterwards
• brides: make appointment with hairdresser to make sure the veil you chose works with the hair style you chose
• Brides and Grooms: buy gifts for your attendants
• Brides: attend final wedding gown fitting
• finalize vows

3 to 4 weeks before:

• finish and print ceremony programs
• do trial runs of hair and make up and schedule wedding day beauty appointments
• send rehearsal dinner invitations out
• discuss song list with ceremony musicians and agree on final choice.
• pick up wedding rings and check inscription before you leave the store
• make sure your homeowners insurance policy includes your rings and your gifts
• wrap all gifts for attendants along with a nice note to them
• shop for any additional accessories your might needs like jewelry, evening bags, stockings, honeymoon essentials
• follow up meeting with officiant finalize all ceremony timing and details
• confirm wedding night and honeymoon details
• get marriage license and make appointment for blood tests and see when marriage license expires
• song list for DJ or band, Create a list of "must play" and "must not play" songs
• work out wedding day timing and details, who will get the bride there, where wedding party will dress etc and draw up the schedule, give everyone details.
• call or email wedding party critical info related to rehearsal and wedding, dates, times, directions, duties
• Brides: make sure to have your garter, "something old, new, borrowed and blue if you want this custom in your wedding.
• pick up your gown
• finalize any special preferences, and readings or ceremony details in writing with your officiant
• keep up on those thank you notes, don't get overwhelmed get them out as soon as gifts come in
• do paperwork for official documents if you are changing your name
• get final pre-wedding haircut if necessary
• sit for your bridal portrait, if you decide to do one.

1 to 2 weeks before:

• determine the order you want everyone to stand, if having a receiving line
• determine wedding day assignments for members of your party, give them a list or info sheet
• call guests who haven't RSVP either for the wedding or rehearsal dinner, to finalize head count
• practice walking in your shoes
• pick up veil and headpiece, if haven't yet
• give final head count to caterer, confirm set up instructions and all menu items
• call location manager and make sure your vendors all have access to your site when they need it
• plan a party or go out for cocktails to thank your attendants for all of their help
• confirm head count, delivery time and location with baker for cake
• start putting together seating arrangements, if there is a seated reception meal
• finalize seating chart. buy materials and make place cards, give typed names to calligrapher if having on.
• fax transportation providers a schedule and addresses for pickups on wedding day
• confirm delivery locations, times and final arrangement counts to your florist
• touch base with officiant and give him rehearsal details and wedding day schedule
• Grooms: pick up your tux and try on, don't wait til day of wedding to do this
• purchase travelers checks for the honeymoon
• confirm all final payment amounts with your vendors
• confirm location, date and time with photographer and give them "must take" photo list to them
• confirm location, date and time with videographer.
• Grooms: get final hair cut
• give seating chart to caterer or location manager or host
• prepare your toasts or thanks to friends and family and attendants
• plan any additional night before activities with friends and attendants

Day before:

• Distribute wedding day directions, schedule and contact lists to parents, attendants and vendors
• designate who will meet, greet, and handle each vendor on wedding day
• put together your overnight bag for your wedding night-toothbrush, lingerie etc, designate someone to deliver it to hotel for you.
• designate someone to collect wedding gifts and any cash brought to reception
• leave a copy of honeymoon itinerary with someone in case of emergency
• put final payments and cash tips in marked envelopes. give to designated person family or friend to distribute on the wedding day
• confirm date, location, time and play list with band or DJ for ceremony and reception
• Brides: get manicure and pedicure and confirm wedding day beauty appointment
• give announcements to honor attendant to be mailed on the wedding day
• pack your emergency kit, aspirins, safety pins, mints, stocking, shoes, veil, make up
• rehearse the ceremony with officiant and wedding party
• drop off favors, guest book and pen at reception site

The Big Day:

This is no time to stress out....I know you are though.....Relax and enjoy your day....You have it all together....Deep breath in and Relax....thank your family and friends for being with you and for sharing this special day together.....Enjoy your wedding and remember: After every wedding there is a Marriage, Please put time into your Marriage as you have with your wedding, Your marriage will last for the rest of your Lives...Many happy years together, God Bless you both.........Precious Petals (Trudi Lee)